The History of the Microcontroller
The microcontroller was invented at Texas Instruments in the early 1970s, around the same time as the first microprocessor was being invented at Intel. Early microcontrollers were simply microprocessors with built-in memory such as RAM and ROM. Later, microcontrollers evolved into a wide array of devices tailored for specific embedded system applications in devices such as cars, wireless phones and household appliances.
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The First Microcontroller
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In 1971, the first microcontroller was invented by two engineers at Texas Instruments, according to the Smithsonian Institution. Gary Boone and Michael Cochran created the TMS 1000, which was a 4-bit microcontroller with built-in ROM and RAM. The microcontroller was used internally at TI in its calculator products from 1972 until 1974, and was refined over the years. In 1974, TI offered the TMS 1000 for sale to the electronics industry. The TMS 1000 was available in various configurations of RAM and ROM sizes. As of 1983, about 100 million TMS 1000 devices had been sold.
Intel Microcontrollers
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In addition to producing the first microprocessor, Intel also developed many important microcontrollers, two of which are the 8048 and 8051. Introduced in 1976, the 8048 was one of Intel's first microcontrollers and was used as the processor in the IBM personal computer keyboard. It is estimated that over one billion 8048 devices were sold. The 8051 followed in 1980 and became one of the most popular microcontroller families. Variations of the 8051 architecture are still being produced today, making the 8051 one of the most long-lived electronic designs in history.
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Electrically Erasable Memories
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During the 1990s, microcontrollers with electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM) memories, such as flash memory, became available. These microcontrollers could be programmed, erased and reprogrammed using only electrical signals. Prior to the electrically reprogrammable devices, microcontrollers often required specialized programming and erasing hardware, which required that the device be removed from its circuit, slowing software development and making the effort more expensive. With this limitation removed, microcontrollers were able to be programmed and reprogrammed while in a circuit so devices with microcontrollers could be upgraded with new software without having to be returned to the manufacturer. Many current microcontrollers, such as those available from Microchip and Atmel, incorporate flash memory technology.
Modern Microcontrollers
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In addition to general purpose devices, specialized microcontrollers are being produced for areas such as automotive, lighting, communications and low-power consumer devices. Microcontrollers have also become smaller and more powerful. For example, in 2010, Atmel announced a flash microcontroller in a package measuring 2 mm by 2 mm. These tiny microcontrollers are small enough and cheap enough to be used in products such as toys and toothbrushes.
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